AGPS Pipe Pro User Manual

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Manual revision date: 8/31/22

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Summary of Contents for AGPS Pipe Pro

Page 1 www.CooksAGPS.com Manual revision date: 8/31/22...
Page 2: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Welcome ................................4 Basic Concepts ..............................4 How the Program Calculates Grade ........................4 Units of Measure ................................5 Glossary of Terms ................................. 5 The Main Working Screen ..........................7 The Main Working Screen – Overhead View ....................... 7 The Working Screen –...
Page 3 Lay-Minimum Pass ..............................37 Creating a Lay Minimum Pass ............................37 Topography Pass ............................... 39 Collecting a Topo Pass ................................39 Previous Topo Lay Pass ............................40 Creating a Previous Topo Lay Pass ..........................40 Surfaces in Previous Topo Lay ............................42 Design Info Screen and Modifying Points in a Design ..................
Page 4: Welcome
How the Program Calculates Grade AGPS-Pipe Pro™ Designs the tile line based on what the user selects as the minimum slope and optimum depth. The program will attempt to place the tile line at the Optimum Depth while...
Page 5: Units Of Measure
Units of Measure AGPS-Pipe Pro™ can be set to work in Feet (International); Feet (U.S. Survey); or Meters. A typical user in the United States will choose Feet (U.S. Survey). For both Feet (International) and Feet (U.S. Survey) will be calculated and displayed in tenths of feet, so that 6.5’ is the same as 6’6”.
Page 6 Data folder All job file data opened and saved by the program is stored by default in C:\amw\data\ Device Other forms: Device Menu, External Device, Control Device, etc. The Device refers to interface device that operates the automatic blade control, such as a DAC-7000/DAC-8000™ or a LaserTech™...
Page 7: The Main Working Screen
The Main Working Screen The AGPS-Pipe Pro™ working screen is divided into three sections: 1. The Top Menu Bar on page 8 2. The Middle Plot Screen, with an Overhead View on page 9 and a Profile View on page 10 3.
Page 8: The Working Screen - Menu Bar
Trimble™ (GGK) PDOP Adjusts the Optimum Depth of the tile line. Please note that AGPS-Pipe Pro™ will redesign the tile line from your current location, removing previously laid tile points for that line from the screen. The amount the Optimum...
Page 9: The Plot Screen -Overhead View
Adjusts the Minimum Slope of the tile line. Please note that AGPS-Pipe Pro™ will redesign the tile line from your current location, removing previously Minimum Slope Adjustment laid tile points for that line from the screen. The amount the Minimum Slope Adjustment buttons adjust can be set in the Parameters Menu on page 54.
Page 10: The Plot Screen - Profile View
Red data points showing the relative elevation of your original survey Ground Profile pass. The Maximum Depth of the tile line. AGPS-Pipe Pro™ will not allow the Maximum Depth pipe plan to go below this line. It can be adjusted in the Parameters Menu, on page 54.
Page 11: The Working Screen - Info Bar
‘true’ position of the blade. The Working Screen – Info Bar The current amount above or below grade AGPS-Pipe Pro™ is laying tile at. Touch to set a Cut/Fill different Cut/Fill.
Page 12 Touch the entry field to pull up a touch screen keypad. Select the unit of measure (typically Feet U.S. Survey for U.S. users). Select AGPS-Pipe Pro™ from the Dashboard’s “Program” Dropdown menu. Press Start button. Agree to the Disclaimer, you must do this every time you start AGPS-Pipe Pro™...
Page 13 Choose the Instrument (GPS). The GPS instrument must be configured to output the correct message type. Cousult the GPS manufacturer for specifics. Then Choose the Com Port the GPS is outputting messages to. Select the Normal Rod Length. The Normal Rod is the typical rod length.
Page 14 Parameters Menu Adjust the parameters to your preferred settings. Select an option to see a more detailed description. Be sure to adjust the Survey-Pass offest. This is how high the blade is held above the ground when you survey. You must survey with the blade in the same place each time (typically all the way up).
Page 15: Starting A New Job Or Restarting A Current Job, Via Dashboard
Starting a New Job or Restarting a Current Job, via Dashboard: Follow these procedures to each time to start AGPS-Pipe Pro™. If the program does not load on computer startup, locate & double tap Start AGPS-Pipe Pro™ the Start the AGPS icon on the desktop.
Page 16 - If you have no control point, like starting a new job, Select UTM 0 point or State Plane 0 point. See Zones on the last 2 pages of this manual. - If you have a control point, Select UTM 1 ③...
Page 17: Start/Restart A Job, Via Menus
Start/Restart a Job, via menus: Follow these procedures to use the Legacy method to start AGPS-Pipe Pro™. If the program does not load on computer startup, locate and double 1. Start AGPS-Pipe Pro™ tap the Start AGPS icon on the desktop.
Page 18 8. Set the Location- Instrument Position. Select your UTM Zone or your State Plane Region. If you do not have a control point, skip to step 11. 9. Load a Control Point - Select the Rod Length you are going to use to read the instrument - Select the Control Point you want to read (if you have a control point but it...
Page 19: Working With Rtk-Gps
AGPS-Pipe Pro™ is designed to be used with most high-grade RTK-GPS systems. The accuracy of AGPS-Pipe Pro™ is directly related to the accuracy of the RTK-GPS system that you utilize. Not all RTK-GPS systems are the same and offer the same accuracy and repeatability. Contact your AGPS-Pipe Pro™...
Page 20: Troubleshooting My Gps
1. Verify the GPS is plugged into the correct COM port Bad Data 2. Verify the GPS is configured correctly 3. Verify AGPS-Pipe Pro™ is configured to the correct instrument and to the correct incoming Baud and Update rate. The GPS is not seeing the base station 1.
Page 21: Rod Length And Survey Pass Offset
Temp Creates a new temporary length but does not add it to the permanent list. CALC Calculate the length from a triangle. Not used in AGPS-Pipe Pro™ MEAS Measures the length using Z and the Instrument. Not often used. The remainder are the rod lengths saved in the program.
Page 22: Working With The Program
Working with the Program Adjusting the view To adjust the view in the Working Screen Press the Screen Icon Note: When in Overhead View, the Side View Icon will be visible, and when in Side View, the Topography Icon. Pressing the Zoom In Icon will Zoom the view in, centered on Zoom In your current position (either real or fake).
Page 23: The Buttons Menu
The Buttons Menu The Buttons Menu will display all of the keyboard ‘hotkeys’ for the program. You can also select the option in the Buttons Menu to do that action. BackSpace Switch Pass Show View from the Side PageUp Move Blade Up Show View from the Top Page Down Move Blade Down...
Page 24: The Click Menu
The Click Menu When you touch the screen you will see the click menu. This menu has many operations that you may want to do while surveying or laying tile. Sets the clicked NEZ (it will be displayed) as a ‘fake position’. A 'fake position' will Set NEZ as ‘fake position’...
Page 25: The Light Bars
Grid Menu Opens the Grid Menu. See Grid Menu on page 27. The Light Bars The Light Bars allow a visual indication of your path and vertical accuracy. The vertical lightbar also acts as a blade offset. The lightbar menu is a part of the plot menu, details on page 51. Vertical Lightbar Path Lightbar The Path lightbar will indicate either the path to drive for...
Page 26: The Light Bar Menu
The Light Bar Menu Toggle Drawing Toggles between the light bars being ON or OFF. Must =ON to see the light bars. Toggle show in Side View Toggles showing the light bars in the side (drainage path) view only. Only Width of the Vertical Bar The % width of the Vertical Bar.
Page 27: The Grid
The Grid The Grid allows for exact placement of tile. You can snap the path of your survey passes to the grid for straight lines and snap your PTL up and down hill passes to the grid. The grid can be adjusted to whatever pattern you need and saved.
Page 28 Setup Grid Manually Grid Offset Allows you to offset the grid some amount N (north) and E (east) and Z (elevation – uncommon) For instance, if you wanted to offset the grid 10 feet NorthWest from your current grid, you would add 10 feet to N and subtract 10 feet from Setup Grid Manually Set Grid Angle...
Page 29: Using The Grid
Typically AGPS-Pipe Pro™ Supports Bitmap images in the .bmp format with a georeferencing .bpw file associated with it or .drw polyline files. Consult your AGPS-Pipe Pro™ Technician with any questions about these file types. 1. Press the Menu Icon 2.
Page 30: Laying Tile
‘Build from a .dxf’. If you have a .drw file, Select ‘Replace this File’ and then selct the .drw file. If you have a .SVY from AGPS-Topo, you can pick “Contour Map built from a .SVY file”. If you have a .NEZ or other TXT, you can pick “Contour Map built from...
Page 31 Choose a unique label by Opens the Choose a Point-Label menu, see below. This is the most common choice Prefix in this menu. Choose a unique Lateral Selects a lateral label that is unique Label Choose a unique Main Label Selects a main label that is unique.
Page 32: Pass Types
The remaining options are different tile sizes. If the size you are using is not in this list, select ADD1 and add the label you need. Pass Types There are several types of passes in AGPS-Pipe Pro™ To select the pass you want Press and Hold the Pass Icon A pass to survey the tile line.
Page 33: Survey Pass
A Lay pass done with previously captured topography data. Previous Topo Eliminates Survey passes. Also allows tile to be laid both up and down hill. The Menu Bar is colored Dark Blue in PTL Mode. Grey/disabled until a Tile Design is calculated/shown. Controlled Rip Allows Machine Control to follow the profile to Rip at an offset Pass...
Page 34: Rip Pass
Parameters menu. So, for instance, if the Rip-Lay Vertical Distance is set at 1’, and you pre-rip at a constant of 2’, AGPS-Pipe Pro™ will attempt to place the tile at an optimum of 3’ deep. Creating a Rip Pass Start at the high point of the run you want to tile with the Plow at the Rip Depth;...
Page 35 Press and Hold the Pass Icon and select Rip Pass 1. Press capture It will turn green 2. Drive the Run 3. Press RIP It will change to LAY 4. Lower the Blade to Starting Depth / Grade and Press Capture The run will be designed Verify the Rip...
Page 36: Recalling A Previously Captured Survey Or Rip Pass
Recalling a Previously Captured Survey or Rip Pass Survey and Rip Passes can be done previous to when the tile is being laid. Also use this process if you need to resume tiling a line you’ve already surveyed or ripped. Take note of the Pass Label for any Survey or Rip Pass that you want to come back to.
Page 37: Lay-Minimum Pass
3. Select the SVY or RIP pass Nearest Main or Lateral are options at the top. Most recent are at the bottom. IF you get a Warning about the the data: One of the conditions Oldest point=first captured in the description Freshest point=last capt.
Page 38 1. Press capture It will turn green 2. Drive Forward at least 1’ to design Lay Minimum Note all the lines are parallel at minimum slope %. 3. If Machine Control is not green, press it. Toggle Machine Control ON in your machine. Lay the Run 4.
Page 39: Topography Pass
Topography Pass The Topography Pass logs the path you drive as if you were installing tile. Collecting a Topo Pass Start at the either point of the run you want to log with the Plow raised up; Verify you are set to the correct Pass Label.
Page 40: Previous Topo Lay Pass
RTK-GPS system to assure accuracy and correct data transfer. If you use a different topography collection system, please speak with an AGPS technical support expert to insure that you have accurate data, proper control points and transfer that data correctly into AGPS.
Page 41 3. Select Up or Down Hill It will turn green 4. Load Main Passes This will color any passes labeled as ‘Main’ pink. Press the Menu Icon Select Pass Menu Select Load MAIN Passes 5. Add PTL Target(s) Touch/click the screen where you want to add the target Add along a Grid line -When adding a target along a...
Page 42: Surfaces In Previous Topo Lay
Design Info Screen and Modifying Points in a Design AGPS-Pipe Pro™ has a Design Information feature. Simply touch (or click) anywhere on a design to see information about that design. A blue line will be drawn where you touch and a screen...
Page 43 From this design information screen you can select to ‘Modify’ the points of the design. Smooths the points around where you clicked. Useful in eliminating a hill or Ignore (by smoothing) depression that appears in the design that you want to ignore or that were a mistake in surveying.
Page 44: Above Plan Commit-To Error
This will allow you to determine how much distance you want to smooth or delete. Above Plan Commit-To Error AGPS-Pipe Pro™ has an Above Plan Commit-to Error for accurate tile placement. Whenever the blade comes Above Plan a set amount (this is set in the parameters menu), the program automatically ‘commits’...
Page 45: Collecting A Control Point
Collecting a Control Point 1. Press the Menu Icon 2. Select Quit this Application 3. Select Capture a Control Point Here 4. Select your Rod Length This may be the typical rod length of the plow or a different Rod Length (e.g.
Page 46: Finishing A Job
Export the data. Creating Reports AGPS-Pipe Pro™ will automatically calculate the amount of tile laid, separate it by tile size and list it in the order the tile was laid, total the tile by date and overall. A portion of an example report:...
Page 47: Export Data Options
3. Select ‘Run “ExportData” Utility 4. Select options see Export Data Options (below) for details 5. Click Export Export Data Options The job you are working in will be the selected job. If you press the ‘Show all .svy’ Select a job to export button, all of the jobs saved will appear on the list.
Page 48: Menus
Miscellaneous actions that can be performed. See Miscellaneous actions on page Miscellaneous actions If Quick Setup Mode is toggled ON, AGPS-Pipe Pro™ will skip asking you to choose Toggle Quick Setup Mode the program you want to run on startup and load directly to the AGPS-Pipe Pro™...
Page 49: Instrument Menu
Instrument Menu The Instrument Menu controls the GPS and other forms of measurement From the Main Menu Select the Instrument Menu. Choose the Type of Choose the brand/type of GPS or GPS Simulator the program will use. Instrument Position Settings Set up the UTM or State Plane of the Instrument.
Page 50 Direction Change Required change in direction Velocity Delay for Smooth A setting for how the program determines speed. Smooths elevation input. Do not use without advice from a AGPS-Pipe Pro™ Parameter value smoothing Technician first. Reads to skip after a read Allows you to set how many ‘reads’...
Page 51: Plot Menu
Plot Menu The Plot Menu controls how things are drawn/displayed on the Main Working Screen From the Main Menu Select the Plot Menu or press ‘8’ on the keyboard. Update Interval Affects how often the main working screen updates. Magnify Vertical in Side Sets the default amount that the program zooms when not viewing ‘all’.
Page 52: Survey File Menu
Survey File Menu The Survey File Menu controls how the survey file is saved, export survey file, edit the survey file. From the Main Menu Select the Survey File Menu. Backup the Job Backup the current job to the external destination (Typically USB drive). Format the survey file to a Turns the .svy file into a .nez file and exports it.
Page 53: Devices Menu
Shows the current message strings from the Machine Controller. Useful for Show Input Messages testing/troubleshooting. Show Last Blade Shows the immediately previous command sent from AGPS-Pipe Pro™ to the Command Machine Controller. Useful for testing/troubleshooting. Allows you to enter a command to send to the Machine Controller. Command must Enter a Command be in the data-string type used by the Machine Controller.
Page 54: Parameters Menu
AGPS Technical Specialist before changing these settings. Allows you to adjust the DOWN response settings of the Machine Control. Please DOWN Response Settings speak to an AGPS Technical Specialist before changing these settings. Groups of Settings Allows you to save different groups of UP/DOWN Response Settings Parameters Menu The Parameters Menu is where you adjust how the profile is designed.
Page 55: Advanced Parameters Menu
Advanced Parameters Menu From the Main Menu Select the Parameters Menu. Toggle Simulate-Non- Turning this on will make AGPS-Pipe Pro™ simulate AGPS Pipe-FM™ Advanced Mode Turn on only if using Dual GPS, with a front antenna accurate for elevation. Toggle Swapping DualGPS Typically used when the rear/primary antenna is difficult to maintain a Antennas on SVY passes.
Page 56 Vertical Error Tolerance How far from ‘On Grade’ before the program tells you UP/DN. LNR Horizontal Distance How long a LNR (Lay Minimum) pass will calculate. Default is 1000 feet. Additional slope to help control a non-float, slope controlled plow. Default is Added-Slope for non-float The length of the blade, from tip to back.
Page 57: Pass Menu
Pass Menu The Pass Menu controls the pass type. From the Main Menu Select the Pass Menu or press ‘P’ on the keyboard. A pass to survey the tile line. The survey is done with the plow at a constant height above the ground.
Page 58: Miscellaneous Actions
Use old SVY Recall a previously recorded Survey or Rip pass for a Lay pass Copy in a CAP File Load another file containing SVY or RIP passes. Build a Captured Data File from Ag Data Viewer. Contact your Ag Data Viewer Build a CAP File Technician for questions.
Page 59: Quit This Application
Capture a Control Point Captures a control point. See Collecting a Control Point on page 45. Quit Now Quits AGPS-Pipe Pro™ and takes you to the AGPS Main Menu. DO Not Quit Takes you back to the AGPS-Pipe Pro™ Working Screen.
Page 60: Utm Zones
UTM Zones and State Plane UTM Zone (Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) geographic coordinate system) and State Planes are coordinate systems to help GPS signals be more accurate in the real world. UTM is a world-wide system that takes earth curvature into account, State Plane ‘ignores’ earth curvature.